Iyengar Yoga with Caroline

07/25/2024

Stability and mobility, then strength and alignment. What yoga does to you.

01/22/2024

10/23/2023

The Samsara of War, by Tias Little

In times of war, sorrow courses through our veins and our hearts bleed droplets of grief. In the face of such immense suffering, we are perplexed and deeply saddened. How could people wreak such ruin upon each other?

War evokes such existential sorrow as violence, divisiveness, terror and hate perpetuate samsara. Samsara is the endless cycle of suffering, carried out by the blind eye of aggression. Violence breeds more violence.

For those of us committed to realizing an undivided mind, and a heart that is wide open, it is shockingly painful to witness senseless acts of war. War ensues when people get caught in the snare of dichotomizing belief-- taking sides, each side deeming themselves to be right and the other wrong, vowing revenge. For those of us on the path of yoga, the aim is to reconcile split-mindedness, knowing that a divided mind perpetuates personal and collective suffering.

The outbreak of war in the Middle East emboldens us to be more committed to loving kindness, tolerance, and non-harming (the first vow in yoga, ahimsa). While there is never perfect harmony between peoples of the world, we must strive for unity and peace. On the world’s stage, we must move away from dualistic thinking and narrowed mindsets of us versus them and find a way to greater compassionate presence.

07/11/2023

Wise words from B. K. S. Iyengar.

06/16/2023

Yoga theory - inquiring minds want to know! Free event at the London Public Library next Wed, June 21 IDY- International Day of Yoga.

05/31/2023

I’m teaching a short class 1pm at the downtown London library for this educational event. I think I’m going to spotlight two key poses- Sukhasana and Tadasana aka how to sit and how to stand!

03/23/2023

Leonard Cohen said his teacher once told him that, the older you get, the lonelier you become, and the deeper the love you need. This is because, as we go through life, we tend to over-identify with being the hero of our stories.

This hero isn’t exactly having fun: he’s getting kicked around, humiliated, and disgraced. But if we can let go of identifying with him, we can find our rightful place in the universe, and a love more satisfying than any we’ve ever known.

People constantly throw around the term “hero’s journey” without having any idea what it really means. Everyone from CEOs to wellness influencers thinks the hero’s journey means facing your fears, slaying a dragon, and gaining 25k followers on Instagram. But that’s not the real hero’s journey.

In the real hero’s journey, the dragon slays YOU. Much to your surprise, you couldn’t make that marriage work. Much to your surprise, you turned forty with no kids, no house, and no prospects. Much to your surprise, the world didn’t want the gifts you proudly offered it.

If you are foolish, this is where you will abort the journey and start another, and another, abusing your heart over and over for the brief illusion of winning. But if you are wise, you will let yourself be shattered, and return to the village, humbled, but with a newfound sense that you don’t have to identify with the part of you that needs to win, needs to be recognized, needs to know. This is where your transcendent life begins.

So embrace humility in everything. Life isn’t out to get you, nor are your struggles your fault. Every defeat is just an angel, tugging at your sleeve, telling you that you don’t have to keep banging your head against the wall. Leave that striver there, trapped in his lonely ambitions. Just walk away, and life in its vastness will embrace you.
~ Paul Weinfield

Remember in the movie Avatar..he had to learn to ride his dragon. We are all being led through this journey to embrace our souls and allow them to lead us. There is nothing to do...just to allow, accept and BE. We are so out of practice "BEING"....we have forgotten how. Take a deep breath with me....and let out ALL which isn't you....and give yourself permission to feel your true eternal essence. Ahhhhhh...that's it. Just BE. ~Faith Spina

02/22/2023

Introduction to Iyengar Yoga!

10-week course, two class times available:
Wednesdays 4-5pm (start: Wed, March 8th)
Fridays 9-10am (start: Fri, March 10th)
at the newly opened E3 Yoga Collective studio (Belmont/Wharncliffe in South London)
$150 for 10 classes
Please send me a message to be registered. I require a minimum of 5 students to run the program.
This is a classical hatha yoga class with clear directive instruction to help achieve mobility, stability, strength and alignment. The aim of yoga is to connect mind and body, to help you find that peace of your mind in this increasingly crazy world. Suitable to all bodies and levels especially for those new to yoga or those who need a re-fresh!